Meaning & use
no joke
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Meanings
phrasefixed phraseinformal
Used to say that something is serious, difficult, or not to be treated lightly.
Grammar: Comes after the verb 'be': 'The pain was no joke.' It cannot be used before a noun.
Patterns
- something is no joke
- something was no joke
Losing your job in this economy is no joke.
That hike up the mountain was no joke; we were exhausted.
Learning a new language as an adult is no joke.
phrasefixed phraseinformal
Used to say that someone or something is very impressive or serious in a way that demands respect.
Grammar: Often describes a person's skill or a situation's seriousness: 'Her serve is no joke.'
Patterns
- someone is no joke
- something is no joke
Their new goalkeeper is no joke—he saved every shot.
The competition this year is no joke.
That spicy sauce is no joke; drink some water!
Common combinations
- be no joke
- Getting a visa in time was no joke.
- no joke at all
- The traffic this morning was no joke at all.
- something is no joke
- Raising twins is no joke.
Synonyms and how they differ
- serious
- Use 'serious' as a normal adjective before a noun; 'no joke' is a fixed phrase that comes after 'be'.
- tough
- 'Tough' is an informal adjective meaning difficult; 'no joke' emphasizes that something should not be underestimated.
Opposites
Commonly confused: no joke or joke?
no joke vs joke
A 'joke' is something said to make people laugh. 'No joke' means something is serious, the opposite of a joke.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'no joke' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'No joke' is a fixed phrase that follows the verb 'be' to mean something is serious or difficult. Option B fits this pattern. Option An is wrong because 'no joke' cannot be used as a noun before 'at'. Option C is wrong because it cannot be used as an adjective before a noun. Option D is wrong because it is not a verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “no joke”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.